Mandy Cassidy is a Support Worker in Warrington. She’s worked for MacIntyre for ten years.
Those two sentences don’t go anywhere near giving an accurate description of someone who has the most amazing energy and enthusiasm for her job.
Mandy had worked in the care sector before she came to MacIntyre, but she also spent some years running a pub, where of course she met all kinds of people from all kinds of backgrounds.
A new job at MacIntyre
She wasn’t sure of her next step when her sister, who worked for MacIntyre at the time, told her of a vacancy we had and that she’d be perfect for it. After looking at a couple of job options, Mandy joined MacIntyre and has been here ever since.
Supporting Luke
Nowadays, Mandy supports a man called Luke, and you should hear her enthusiasm and pride when she talks about him. Luke used to be very withdrawn and didn’t want to try anything new, including new foods and experiences. Having built up her relationship with Luke over a period of time, Mandy’s now glad to say that he will try all kinds of new foods – the latest was beetroot, And of course both Mandy and Luke enjoy ice cream, as you can see from the photo! Luke is also meeting new people in his local community, including going to the disco and being part of Warrington Wolves Fit to Tackle scheme.
Speaking at our conference
Mandy’s pride in her job took her out of her comfort zone last year when she was asked to speak at MacIntyre’s staff conference in Warrington. Speaking in public to 200 people is a nightmare for many, but Mandy turned out to be a complete natural. She spoke warmly about her experiences and what it takes to help create a gloriously ordinary life for people who draw on our support. Her contribution was a huge success, with lots of people coming up afterwards to congratulate her.
Supportive managers
As well as her work with Luke, Mandy’s keen to shine a light on her manager and colleagues. She had a nasty accident a while back and was away from work for 12 weeks, some of which was spent in hospital. She speaks so highly of how much support she was given during that time, and when she returned to work afterwards.
The Five Musketeers
Outside of work, Mandy enjoys keeping up with five good friends, many of whom she’s met at MacIntyre, even if some have since moved on. The “Five Musketeers” as she calls them, are currently planning some Christmas trips.
Make connections
If Mandy has one message she’d like you to take away from reading this article, it’s the importance of making connections. Perhaps it’s her background running a pub, but for herself, her friends and people like Luke who draw on support, it’s community and connection that make the world go round!
